Have we got a starting Secondary School Support thread?

lougle i think our DDs may go to the same school. Is it in Hampshire??

Had an upset DS2 texting to say he's been allocated a different bus to the one he's been getting with his friend. TBH the bus he's been allocated is the one I thought he was getting on so I'm a bit mystified but he'd not charged his phone so I'll wait until he gets home. His friend lives in the next road but they were late applying so he's paying to get the bus atm. The buses are capacity so I've no idea what will happen to his friend if his transport isn't sorted soon.

Oh sprouts and purple it's all so hard. Portakabin it sounds like your DD2 is getting to grips with it.

DD2 wanted to get the bus from a different location today (the location I advised her to catch it from in the first place) but she wasn't going to mention it to her neighbour (typical passive approach from her). I told her she can't do that, and she needed to tell her what she was doing!

I'll be glad when she's been there a month.

Portakabin dd is similarly bus avoiding. She won't get on one at all. Not even with friends.

Oh sprouts and purple that's hard. I know at dd's school they've been laying it on about doing homework immediately, rigourously enforcing uniform and setting expectations. It's going to make a lot of children extremely anxious and if they're struggling with the whole change anyway it must tip some of tbe right over the edge :(

Do get on to the pastoral teams though. I was nervous about making a fuss but it was the right thing to do.

A good start to today - dd2 contemplated going in on her own, and was sounding ok with it until the moment came, and then she asked me to come along too. No tears, though, so that’s an improvement. Also good that her form tutor was there, at reception, where she had said she would be (have been there, done that with this scenario before, where school attempt to wean dd2 off needing me by promising X teacher will be there at Y time to escort her, and then not being there).

Dd2 wasn’t exactly relaxed last night, but not too stressed either, which I am taking as a win - it is a huge change, as a PP said, and so coping is a bloody good start.

Dd2 is wondering whether to try out for the netball team - she’s not exactly a brilliant player, but useful enough and enjoys it, and has said she will miss it (prep school played a LOT of sport, and was genuinely all inclusive - played right down to D/E teams so everyone got to play) as there’s not as much timetabled games/PE now. She’s not sure as none of her new-found friends will be going, but we have talked a lot about meeting new people through activities, and eg having netball friends, choir friends, teaching group friends - basically not relying on one person/a few select friends to provide everything, and instead enjoy being herself and having friends in different areas.

I am really impressed by some of your dcs’ organisation and resourcefulness with buses etc. Dd2 might get the bus by the time she’s in sixth form 😀

I think it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of the idea of moving up to secondary school and forget what a huge change it is for them. Primary is so different and they are very used to it. The first few days of secondary can be very scary although some are excited and then a few days/weeks later the reality sets in! After my DDs first year at secondary I'm very prepared for lots of ups and downs with friendships, homework, detentions, tiredness, exams etc etc.

Oh no sorry for all those struggling...

Hopefully some rest and a quiet weekend will help. It must be a big shock and will take some getting used to.

Sorry to hear your DS is struggling Sprouts would let school know. My DS is ASD and not organised at all, the mere thought of organisation sends him in a panic but DD organises him. 😂 She packs both their bags, puts his clothes out, hard to believe they are one year apart.

I hope the school get back to you very shortly purpleshimmer and you can get to the bottom of what the upset is about. Must be a worry, but hopefully it's easily sorted.

sproutsandparsnips Sorry your DS is feeling overwhelmed atm. It's a huge change and it's understandable it seems so daunting to him right now. Do contact the school if you feel he could do with an extra-eye on him. I really dithered about contacting DS2's school about him potentially being extra-sensitive/upset after family stuff going on, but they seemed genuinely glad I'd contacted them about it.

Glad the school have been responsive AornisHades. My eldest and third have ASD. I think an understanding school really makes a huge difference. And well done to your DD on managing some of the uniform.

My poor DS has burst into tears this morning saying he doesn't want to go. It's his fourth day and he's been totally fine so I can't understand it.

He isn't one to cry often either and he won't tell me any specific reason...all he has mentioned is he doesn't like the French teacher. I hope he isn't being bullied.

I've made him go in but I've rang the school and waiting for head of year to call me back.

I hope he is ok

DS2 hasn't got any books yet. He did lose his bus travel letter (takes a while for passes to come through) and forgot he had spare in his bag, but it was the return journey and the driver let him on. Also made sure he's got some emergency money to buy a ticket.

DS2 loathes English. Utterly loathes it. He's been put in top set which he isn't happy about. I'm assuming they'll rejig sets once they've seen how the pupils actually do. He struggles with writing in the physical sense and coming up with ideas, inferences, depth and producing enough work. Did well on the SATs which i assume is where they are setting from.

My DS is getting on alright, he has missed the bus two days running but can walk it and still be on time! so that's good to know. He had a bit of moaning doing homework yesterday but got it done.

He is also doing football trials today which is a massive thing for him, if he doesn't get into the football team there will be tears

He has sussed out that wearing the lanyard is non-cool and a few other things like playing certain ball games at break is also uncool as is buttoning up your blazer so that's a no no. All and all it has been a good start and I think he is slightly overwhelmed but liking it.

DD doing fine but as she is super sporty (a national champion in her main sport) she was dismayed that during their first pe lesson yesterday she didn't even get to put her pe kit on (they just talked about what they would be doing etc).

She has signed up to 3 extra curricular clubs and is is the top set for all of their set subjects (english, maths, science, languages) so she seems to be doing well.

Can I join you all?
I did look at the thread just before school started and thought dd's ASD etc probably put us in a different place but I see that's changed!
After a rocky start I did get assertive on day 1 and it's going OK. School seem to be getting it! We've got the same struggles with clothing as some of you. I'm hoping I've managed to explain to them that dd only wears soft unstructured clothes so the fact she's meeting all but 2 of the uniform rules is nothing short of miraculous!
There are still some issues - she hasn't spoken to anyone in her form - but it's better than I hoped this time last week.

I'm glad I've found this thread. DS is struggling, though I'm hopeful it's improving. He's crying every night, doesn't know why he feels so anxious and miserable. He's worried he won't keep up, or get bogged down by homework. But mostly he's just worried and therefore sad he says . Still, it's better than it was. All of your dcs seem to be very resourceful - I'm not sure he'll manage the organisation.

DS came home last night claiming that his History teacher had told the class that 'Anno Domini' was Latin for 'After Death' I really hope he misheard. DH is a senior lecturer in Ancient History and nearly had an apoplexy!

Cedar DD also had a shocking lack of geographical knowledge last year, think DS will be the same asked me which part of London we live in, had to explain we don't live in London DD didn't seem to care either, she would get Sweden and Switzerland other way round and then say it doesn't matter as they both begin with S.

Thanks very much for the maths homework mathematician. DH is French and so probably they had different ones. I will tell DS, DS probably won't accept it being ASD but its great to be able to give him a name.

My dd on her third day. So far so good. I think I'm more nervous than her!!

Spiderlight at DD2's school they are expected to cover books in plastic to protect them.

Penguinsnpandas if it is sequences could it be Fibonacci (sp)?
Bunnybigears at least he made the bus!

Lougle your DD did well to get the bus home on her own. Sounds like the school are paying attention to her extra needs as well which is good.

DD's homework has mostly consisted of decorating the fronts of her exercise books so far. We also have a two week timetable to remember - which is tricky because not only do you have to remember which day it is but you also have to remember whether it is week one or week two. Yesterday they had a Geography test where I fear that she showed a shocking lack of geographical knowledge. She told me that she marked London on the middle of a map of the UK!Today she has her first Spanish lesson which hopefully she'll enjoy.

I am pleased it is the weekend coming up, overall she's enjoyed her first week so that is the important thing.

Yes, I would definitely say it's the Fibonacci sequence. Very famous.

Probably Fibonacci penguins